"Boss…"
The Magician stared at the figure a few meters away, sprawled on the ground with limbs bent at unnatural angles—the Clown costume, used for performances, was torn by distorted joints, and spinal vertebrae protruded from his back like a centipede.
"Kill…me…" a hoarse, guttural sound squeezed out from the Monster's throat.
"I…can't…control…myself…anymore."
The head, barely maintaining a human shape, was tilted back at a grotesque angle, and the painted Clown face beneath the skin writhed.
The Magician's knuckles cracked as he gripped his gun, a hint of reluctance in his expression.
He lowered his voice and turned to the Diviner behind him, saying, "If anything goes wrong, shoot immediately. Don't hesitate."
"Understood," the Diviner nodded, flicking off the safety of his pistol. The creaking of the metal mechanism was clearly audible.
The Magician slowly walked forward, each step light, as if afraid of provoking a strong reaction from the Monster.
The Clown, now a Monster, remained motionless, only letting out pained groans.
Clearly, he was about to lose control of his madness.
Just a step or two away from the Monster, the Magician suddenly pulled open the front of his tailcoat, revealing a golden talisman held between two fingers at his heart.
"Get down!" The Magician's shout and the sound of the talisman shattering exploded simultaneously. The Diviner instinctively ducked his head, catching a glimpse of his captain slamming the talisman onto the Monster's forehead.
Blinding white light engulfed the entire room, and the pungent smell of burning sulfur filled the air.
The Clown's curled body convulsed and contracted in the intense light, his bent bones forcibly twisting back into place.
When the last ray of light dissipated, the young Clown lay naked in a pool of blood, his body covered in festering wounds still oozing fresh red liquid.
Although his appearance was horrifying, his faint breathing indicated one fact—he was still alive.
The Magician knelt, tearing off his tailcoat to wrap him. Cold sweat from his nape had already soaked his shirt collar.
If he had misjudged just now, and the Clown hadn't been able to control himself, everyone present might have…
He sighed inwardly, lamenting that he truly wasn't suited for this line of work—to save this newcomer, he had used his last resort.
"Seven thousand pounds…you'll pay me back in your next life, if you even have one…"
The Magician pressed his knee against the Clown's unconsciously spasming calf, and blood-stained talisman residue fell from his fingers.
"Take him and let's retreat quickly…"
He tried to stand but suddenly stumbled. If he hadn't quickly regained his balance, he might have fallen directly to the ground.
Sure enough, that notebook also affected me…The Magician recalled the past two days he had spent studying the notebook.
Although he hadn't directly touched it, he had indeed perused it up close for several days.
If the Clown showed abnormalities, then the "Antigonus" notebook, as the source of the problem, couldn't have had no reaction at all.
He had been subtly contaminated.
"Not good…" The Magician suddenly realized that the Antigonus Family notebook's current condition might not be good.
"You take him first, then evacuate all the workers," the Magician commanded his subordinate beside him.
"And the tourists too."
"Hurry!"
These few people from the team alone were simply incapable of effectively running a Circus.
Even a small-scale Circus still had a large number of workers and related maintenance personnel.
Stage scenery, tent setup, animal feeding and care, ticket and balloon sales, etc.—everywhere required people.
Just the workers currently working in the Circus numbered over a hundred, not to mention the large number of tourists outside.
Once an accident occurred in such a high-traffic area, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The Official wouldn't let them off, nor would the Shawshank Firm's higher-ups.
"But, Captain, you now…" The Diviner hesitated, his captain's condition was truly worrying.
"Hurry! That's an order!" The Magician urged his subordinate, his face pale.
"Okay, I'm going now."
Seeing the Diviner leave with the Clown on his back, the Magician took a deep breath.
"This year's vacation is probably canceled."
He steadied himself and looked in the direction of his room.
Relying on the Clown's abilities, he could still move swiftly despite his mild contamination.
A captain must leave the dangerous work to himself…This was something he had learned years ago from a senior.
Arriving at his room door, and sensing the anomaly around him, the Magician's expression grew colder.
The abnormal spiritual fluctuations confirmed his suspicion: the Antigonus Family notebook had undergone a mutation.
"Come…come quickly…"
He felt a summons; the notebook was calling to him, calling to a Beyonder of the Seer Pathway.
"I cannot be affected by it…"
"Crack!"
The Magician bit his tongue directly. Feeling the metallic taste filling his mouth, he successfully regained his sanity.
He had used this trick for many years.
Pain, in moments of danger, was a good medicine.
Whether it was temptation or bewitchment, they were nothing in the face of pain.
Staying clear-headed at all times would be his trump card.
The Magician, as if performing a trick, conjured a "Burst" talisman into his palm and opened the room door.
…
"Run, everyone, run!"
"There's a fire here! If you don't want to be burned alive, hurry up and leave!"
"What, a fire!" Hearing the Diviner's words, the workers who were busy with their tasks quickly stopped.
They all rushed out in a panic, screaming and surging outwards. If the tent's main entrance hadn't been wide enough, it would have surely jammed.
After a burst of commotion, the once lively performance tent suddenly became empty.
"I hope there won't be a stampede…" The Diviner was a little worried.
"Oh, right, the tourists outside also need to be evacuated…"
"This is bad, Chief, something big has happened!"
At the same time, another Clown from the team ran over, his face anxious.
"Why are you here?" Seeing the newcomer, the Diviner was a little surprised.
"Since you're here, quickly help me evacuate…"
"No, my matter is more urgent, huff…huff."
"No, listen to me first, the Captain now…"
"No, no, you first…"
Thus, the two argued for a while.
"I'm going crazy, if you want to speak, then speak!" Listening to his breathless teammate, the Diviner became irritated.
"Huff, well, the Punishers…there's a team of Punishers outside!"
"They've already surrounded the Circus!"
"Finally said it…" The Clown let out a long breath.
"Punishers…" Hearing this, the Diviner suddenly slumped, his eyes filled with disbelief, muttering to himself.
"What on earth is happening today…"
…
"Run!"
"It's on fire!"
A large group of workers ran out from the central tent, quickly spreading the news of the fire.
"What, a fire!"
The onlookers, who had been watching the hostage drama, became unsettled upon hearing this news.
They were there for gossip, not to risk their lives.
The crowd suddenly stirred, everyone scrambling to escape, and the scene instantly turned into a human blender—arms tangled with arms, backs pressed against backs, utter chaos.
Good opportunity!
Lan'erwusi, who was holding Meigao Ousi hostage, keenly sensed this was an opportunity.
Taking advantage of the Punishers' attention being drawn by the surrounding chaos, he directly grabbed Meigao Ousi's shoulder, pushed her forcefully outwards, and then ran towards the chaotic crowd without looking back.
The Punishers might be a bit irritable, but they couldn't possibly open fire in a chaotic crowd.
"Boom!"
However, a violent explosion sounded not far away, and a black-covered notebook suddenly fell from the sky, precisely hitting Lan'erwusi's head as he was about to escape, knocking him directly to the ground.
Immediately after, an ominous aura permeated the surroundings.
"Ah!" Meigao Ousi suddenly clutched her stomach, collapsing in pain.
Her baby seemed to sense a familiar yet repulsive aura and began instinctively seeking birth.